utimes (3p) - Linux Manuals

utimes: set file access and modification times (LEGACY)

PROLOG

This manual page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual. The Linux implementation of this interface may differ (consult the corresponding Linux manual page for details of Linux behavior), or the interface may not be implemented on Linux.

NAME

utimes - set file access and modification times (LEGACY)

SYNOPSIS

#include <sys/time.h>

int utimes(const char *path, const struct timeval times[2]);

DESCRIPTION

The utimes() function shall set the access and modification times of the file pointed to by the path argument to the value of the times argument. The utimes() function allows time specifications accurate to the microsecond.

For utimes(), the times argument is an array of timeval structures. The first array member represents the date and time of last access, and the second member represents the date and time of last modification. The times in the timeval structure are measured in seconds and microseconds since the Epoch, although rounding toward the nearest second may occur.

If the times argument is a null pointer, the access and modification times of the file shall be set to the current time. The effective user ID of the process shall match the owner of the file, or has write access to the file or appropriate privileges to use this call in this manner. Upon completion, utimes() shall mark the time of the last file status change, st_ctime, for update.

RETURN VALUE

Upon successful completion, 0 shall be returned. Otherwise, -1 shall be returned and errno shall be set to indicate the error, and the file times shall not be affected.

ERRORS

The utimes() function shall fail if:

EACCES

Search permission is denied by a component of the path prefix; or the times argument is a null pointer and the effective user ID of the process does not match the owner of the file and write access is denied.

ELOOP

A loop exists in symbolic links encountered during resolution of the path argument.

ENAMETOOLONG

The length of the path argument exceeds {PATH_MAX} or a pathname component is longer than {NAME_MAX}.

ENOENT

A component of path does not name an existing file or path is an empty string.

ENOTDIR

A component of the path prefix is not a directory.

EPERM

The times argument is not a null pointer and the calling process' effective user ID has write access to the file but does not match the owner of the file and the calling process does not have the appropriate privileges.

EROFS

The file system containing the file is read-only.

The utimes() function may fail if:

ELOOP

More than {SYMLOOP_MAX} symbolic links were encountered during resolution of the path argument.

ENAMETOOLONG

Pathname resolution of a symbolic link produced an intermediate result whose length exceeds {PATH_MAX}.

The following sections are informative.

EXAMPLES

None.

APPLICATION USAGE

For applications portability, the utime() function should be used to set file access and modification times instead of utimes().

RATIONALE

None.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

This function may be withdrawn in a future version.

COPYRIGHT

Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology -- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX), The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and The Open Group. In the event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard is the referee document. The original Standard can be obtained online at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .